ONE of Bolton's top performing primary schools is to break away from local authority control and become a state-funded independent school.

Prestolee Primary School in Stoneclough has announced plans to become an academy.

The school, which is constantly in the top five schools in Bolton based on its key stage two results, says the move will give it the freedoms to raise standards in schools as a whole.

It is the latest of a number of schools in Bolton to convert to an academy, which gives school bosses more freedom over their finances and the curriculum.

Prestolee Primary, which was judged "outstanding" by Ofsted, will also be expanding its teacher training programme after being give powers to award qualified teacher status (QTS).

Headteacher Mike Tonge said: “Academisation helps us take hold of the school, expanding its work so we can positively impact on other schools, teachers and develop initial teacher training (ITT).

"We are playing our part in having a world class educational system, ensuring every child has an outstanding education, improving their life chances.

"While building on strong partnerships with Bolton but with the additional academy freedoms, we are influencing, and improving, the school-led system as a whole.

"Prestolee has a well-deserved and hard-earned reputation for excellence for its children alongside being a nationally recognised centre of excellence improving other schools and influencing policy nationally."

The Prestolee Teaching School Alliance (PTSA) was awarded teaching school status in March 2012 and is led by Prestolee Community Primary School.

It has recently received accreditation from the National College for Teaching and Leadership to be an awarding body for QTS.

The school is now recruiting trainees under a programme called School Direct, which gives schools more influence over the ways teachers are trained.

Deputy head Rebecca Dunne added: “School Direct and our newly appointed school-centred initial teacher training status (SCITT) means that we can train and select the very best teachers for our children in Bolton.

"We have been awarded the powers of accrediting QTS to our trainees.

"This is exciting for us and for Bolton as an authority who are seeking quality first trainees in their schools."